Dispense head for liquid containers

Abstract

The invention is a dispense head for use with a metal beer keg to supply beer under carbon dioxide gas pressure, the keg being of the type having a standard neck fitting including co-axial gas and beer valves operated by insertion of a probe into the neck. The dispense head can be attached to the keg with the probe raised and in this condition a gas shut-off valve closes the gas passageway. This is opened automatically on the lowering of the probe into the neck of the keg which also opens the keg valves. The gas shut-off valve prevents foaming of beer when the dispense head is attached and spraying out of beer dregs when the dispense head is removed from an empty keg.

We claim: 
     
       1. A dispense head for a liquid container of the type used for dispensing liquid under a pressure derived from a supply of gas, the container having an outlet fitting which includes a pair of coaxially disposed valves controlling the inlet of gas and the outlet of liquid respectively, both valves being openable by insertion of a probe into the fitting, the dispense head comprising a body adapted to be secured to the container outlet fitting and a probe mounted in the body, the dispense head defining respective passageways for gas and liquid, the probe being keyed for axial and rotational movement to a manually rotatable member mounted for rotation relative to the body, cam means being provided between the manually rotatable member and the body to cause the member and the probe to move axially and rotationally on manual rotation of the member, such movement of the probe being selectively manually operable independently of the action of attaching the body to the container, and a gas shut off valve being provided in the gas passageway adapted to close the passageway when the probe is in the withdrawn condition and to open it when the probe is in the extended position, said gas passageway being defined between the exterior of the probe and a conical counterbore formed in the interior of the body, the probe having an annular groove defined in its exterior and surrounding the probe, and said gas shut off valve comprising an O-ring provided in said groove and co-operable in the withdrawn position of the probe with the interior surface of the counterbore to close the gas passageway and spaced from the interior surface of the counterbore in the extended position of the probe.